Cambridge Materials Testing
Automotive
Automotive components and assemblies are subject to performance evaluations according to industry standards and manufacturers specifications. Properties such as fade resistance, thermal stability, mar and abrasion resistance, practicality, operation efforts and resistance to deformation are evaluated according to exacting manufacturer’s specifications. CMTL conducts an extensive range of tests according to established test methods including: ASTM, SAE, CGSB, OEM UL & CSA. Compliance testing to a broad range of ASTM, SAE, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Ford, GM and Chrysler Specifications.

CMTL has a full range of accelerated weathering chambers. Textiles, paints, inks, plastics, colorants and coatings may be subjected to outdoor exposure, photo-degradation, fading and photo-chemical reactions and are tested in controlled laboratory conditions on a repeatable basis. Our Xenon-Arc weatherometers can be programmed to operate in accordance with a variety of specifications including SAE J2412 & J2527. QUV/Condensation weatherometer methods are also available for test methods requiring these light sources.

Our Hunter Colorimeter is used to evaluate colour change after weatherometer exposure or for comparison against your master. Colour measurements are taken according to SAE J1545 or ASTM D2244 and can be reported in CIE L*a*b* or Hunter scales. Luminous transmittance and yellowness index testing are also performed.
Mechanical properties such as tensile tear, flexural and compression strength, Izod impact and hardness are standard tests. Plastic thermal properties can be evaluated using such test methods as melt index, heat deflection, Vicat softening, and brittleness temperature.

Analytical test methods such as specific gravity, water absorption, filler content, infrared (IR) analysis, thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry.

Clean ability testing determines the ability of a material to be cleaned after being subjected to a variety of chemicals and cleaning agents. One example, automotive fabrics are tested then rated for their clean ability.

Fade resistance testing is the exposure to energy or uv light in order to determine the color fastness of a given material.

Chemical resistance and can be evaluated using environmental stress-cracking resistance, stain resistance or cleanability tests.



CMTL services includes:

Metallography
Failure Analysis
Chemical Analysis
Mechanical Testing